'Bird bomb' explodes when it's shot by Afghanistan police

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Why did the brown and white bird walk down the road? Apparently to blow somebody up. That's what Afghanistan police surmised when they spotted the large, non-native bird walking along a highway with an antenna, explosives and an electronic device strapped to its body.

Police are still examining the various remains, but have identified what appears to be a GPS device and a small camera. The bird was first spotted close to a police checkpoint in Faryab province in the north where the Taliban are active.

Investigators speculated that the bird may have been "deployed" on a surveillance mission.

It's the first time ever security forces have encountered such a "bird bomb," though Hamas militants rigged a donkey with explosives and set it on a path heading toward Israeli soldiers during fighting in Gaza last summer. No humans were injured, but the donkey exploded.